December 5, 2017

Bill 142, the Construction Lien Amendment Act, was passed with a unanimous vote and marks a pivotal moment wherein the rights and securities of Ontario's workers will now be held to a much higher standard. Bill 142 introduces what is arguably the most sweeping set of changes that the Canadian construction industry has ever seen. It affects 400,000+ workers in Ontario's construction sector.

The Workers Compensation Act requires WorkSafeBC to set premium rates annually for employers in order to pay for the workers’ compensation system.

Premium rate increases and decreases are driven by injury rates, return-to-work performance and the resulting cost of claims, as well as being impacted by investment performance relative to required rates of return. Each year, costs in some rate groups go up, some go down and others stay the same.

WorkSafeBC is committed to preventing workplace injury and illness and protecting the lives and safety of all of British Columbia’s workers. When work-related injuries or illnesses do occur, the organization works to deliver effective and respectful care and service to support injured workers in their recovery and return to work.

June 2, 2017

This report provides a comprehensive overview of their activities and information analysis, including data on their safety assessments and incident investigations, as well as research and enforcement activities.

Among the data and analysis, this year they have placed a strong emphasis on highlighting three Safety Stories that showcase how connected and collaborative efforts can work toward their shared vision of Safe technical systems. Everywhere. In addition, they have also posted all of their As-Found Hazards and Incidents from 2016 on the BCSA website.

March 23, 2016

The Electrical Contractors Association of BC is excited to announce it has formed an official partnership
with E2 Inc., an industry training provider that is a subsidiary of the Electrical Joint Training Committee
(EJTC). E2 Inc. is a fee-for-service organization whose purpose is to bring the expertise and capacity of the
EJTC to the industry training field. Training offered through E2 Inc. will be available to both union and
open shop tradespeople via onsite training at EJTC’s new training facility, offsite training at a location of
the organizer’s choice, or in some cases through a train-the-trainer capacity.

December 8, 2015

B.C. will open the Canada-B.C. Job Grant to applications from employers in the Construction
sector on November 2, 2015, for training that starts on or before March 31, 2016. The CJG will
re-open to applications from ALL employers and sectors in B.C. in January 2016, with priority
given to key sectors supporting BC’s economy, including Construction.

Apr. 10, 2015

How well do you know your employees’ attitudes towards health & safety?

How do you improve your safety culture?

Where do you begin?

Now available to ECABC members, the BCCSA’s Safety Climate Tool is a powerful software-based survey that will help you answer the questions above. With the assistance of a BCCSA Regional Safety Advisor, a survey tailored to your organization will be designed for you to administer. Once the responses have been collected, the Safety Advisor will share the results with you and explain how to transform the feedback into a plan for success. This is a fantastic turnkey solution that will yield great insight into your team.

Jan. 27, 2015

BC Safety Authority’s business plan outlining their goals for the next three years and defines how they will measure success in four key strategic areas:
safety, clients, people, and sustainability. The theme of "building connections" represents the BC Safety Authority's focus in year three of their 10-Year Strategy
as they continue to work towards their vision of Safe Technical Systems. Everywhere.

Jan. 14, 2015

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that the Canada Apprentice Loan initiative is now open for business and accepting applications.

The Canada Apprentice Loan, which was introduced in Economic Action Plan 2014, will provide apprentices in Red Seal trades across Canada with access to interest-free loans. These loans will help apprentices address the costs they encounter during technical training, including educational fees, tools and equipment, living expenses and forgone wages. It will be managed by the Canada Student Loans Program, within Employment and Social Development Canada.

Feb. 19 2014

Please be advised that any past graduates of the Electrical Project Supervision course completing all three levels successfully are eligible to receive their “Gold Seal accreditation”. There will be no wholesale issuing of the certificates but simply done only on request. They may contact Megan Roberts at the CECA office directly at 416.675.3226 ext. 300 or e-mail mroberts@ecao.org

There will be no wholesale issuing of these certificates, so you must apply individually to CECA.

Nov. 12 2013

Understand how contractors and construction leaders can, and must, identify and remove workplace hazards to psychological safety in relation to Bill 14, and how they can address psychological health and safety in the workplace for the benefit of workers, supervisors, leaders, and the bottom line. This seminar was created by the BC Construction Safety Alliance and the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division.

July 17 2013

The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) will certify electricians for the installation of Electrical Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE). "This is another level of specialized certification for qualified electricians," said Andy Cleven, Training Director of the Electrical Joint Training Committee (EJTC). "Plug-in electric hybrid vehicles are becoming popular for commercial and private use in North America. A network of charging stations will be built to meet demand. To stay ahead of the curve we will be training qualified electricians to do installations safely and up to code. This work requires the same expertise as any other electrical installation."

This new certified training program will be the first of its kind in Canada. "It will be offered in two phases," said Cleven. "First we will train the trainers. Then we will train qualified electricians on how to do the installations following strict guidelines, best practices and procedures. Installations must follow the Canadian Electrical Code to minimize the risk to the public, fellow workers and the community. Installations must be done by trained journeyperson Electricians."

"The new EVITP Certification Program will be offered to electrical contractors and their qualified workers to support industry standards and ECABC’s values of safety and education," said Deborah Cahill, President of ECABC. "As we look to the future we know plug-in electrical vehicles will become a prominent fixture in cities and roads in BC along with an infrastructure of reliable, safe charging stations. Professional installations by certified, well trained electricians will guarantee each charging station offers risk free use."

The Canadian EVITP training and certification program for qualified Construction Electricians (NOC 7241) is similar to a program in the USA. "This is a collaboration of industry partners including the National Electrical Trade Council (NETCO), the joint training arm of the Canadian Electrical Contractors Association (CECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, First District, Canada (IBEW). Training in British Columbia will be initially done at EJTC, which is a partnership between IBEW, Local 213 and the Electrical Contractors Association of British Columbia (ECABC)," said Cleven. "The first phase of training will be available to instructors in early 2014."

In order to be eligible for EVITP Instructor Training, candidates must:

Hold a Construction Electrician (NOC 7241) Certificate of Qualification. And

Have a minimum of two years of full-time or four years of part-time documented
experience in delivering electrical trade-related training (e.g., supplemental
apprenticeship training, journeyperson training, safety training) or electrical
apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship training. Candidates who do not meet the
minimum requirement shall be mentored by a qualified EVITP trainer who will
provide on-site coaching and support for the duration of the first training session
delivered by the candidate Instructor. The EVITP Instructor credential shall be issued
only upon recommendation of the mentor. And

Demonstrate that their sponsoring organization is committed to addressing the demand for EVITP training and certification in his/her jurisdiction in a timely manner.

Demand for EVs is expected to be massive over the next few years because they will save companies - currently dependent on gas and diesel fuel – millions of dollars. Cleven points out, "In the US, Frito Lay and Fedex recognize that electric fleets will be very cost effective. Based on their US fleet size, Fedex foresees a potential saving of a million dollars a day. That’s $365 Million per year. As more companies learn about the lower cost of operating and maintaining EVs, more will come on board, creating huge demand. And the first step, before installing Electrical Vehicle Supply Equipment, is training qualified electricians. All of our stakeholders recognize the need and we will be ready."

Feb. 20 2013

Over the past year, the ECABC has been fighting to protect Red Seal Trained Electrical Workers. The decision by the BC Safety Authority to permit other organizations to train and certify workers to perform regulated electrical work will have a negative impact on worker and public safety and is unacceptable to us.

Today, we are proud to announce that our fight continues with the launch of a combined initiative from a broad cross section of the electrical industry including technical education professionals, workers from open shops, union shops, and those involved in electrical maintenance for industrial and institutional facilities. To learn more, please visit our new website: www.protectredsealtrades.ca

The Safety Standards Act defines regulated work as "the assembly, manufacture, construction, installation, operation, testing, maintenance or repair of a regulated product and the alteration of a regulated product." Protect Red Seal Trades defends this act. The ECABC is supported by technical education professionals with trade's certification and electrical contractors and their employees as well as other workers providing electrical maintenance.

Technical education professionals with trade’s certification are employed at training providers in all regions of the province. As educational experts with trade's certification and industry experience, they understand the high standards set by the electrical industry and the training required, meeting and exceeding those standards.

The ECA and other electrical industry stakeholders are concerned the BCSA initiative will lower standards and increase the risk to public and worker safety.

JOIN US AND HELP Protect Red Seal Trades: SIGN THE PETITION ONLINE NOW!

The ECABC has been in a long debate with BCSA who signed an agreement with ASTTBC to certify restricted licenses for electrical work in June 2011. Cahill adds, "From the beginning ECABC and its members have been very concerned with this initiative and the effect it will have on both workers and public safety. The result of this agreement has workers - who are not red seal certified electricians- performing work on electrical installations under these restricted licenses. This includes installations of 30 amps, 3 phase and up to 250 volts, as well as work on critical life safety systems. This decision is unacceptable to us. A serious accident in Ontario is evidence for what could happen in BC."

On July 24, 2012, ThyssenKrupp Industrial Services Canada Inc. was convicted in court of violating Ontario’s Electricity Act by hiring an unlicensed individual to do electrical work. The individual suffered serious arc flash injuries while attempting to remove conductors from an electrical panel. A fine of $70,000 was imposed, which included $50,000 to Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) to be used for electrical safety training.

An arc flash occurs when electrical current moves through the air creating a fiery explosion. A worker will be engulfed in a ball of flame in a split second and is also typically struck by molten metal shrapnel from exploding electrical equipment.

"Obviously, this could have been avoided saving a devastating injury," commented ECABC President Deborah Cahill. "Ignoring regulations is one thing however putting workers at risk because of relaxed standards is the main issue here. I hope the BC Safety Authority is paying attention to what can happen when unqualified, unlicensed electrical workers attempt to go beyond their training and expertise."

"The agreement between BCSA and ASTTBC should be suspended until such time as our concerns are acknowledged and addressed. We have attended numerous meetings with representatives from both organizations to voice our concerns as an industry, however it was apparent that the outcome had been predetermined and our viewpoint was not being considered. One of the most disconcerting aspects of this issue is that the agreement was signed without a verified training and certification process being in place. Without these measures there is considerable risk. The Ontario incident proves our argument," concluded Cahill.

For More Information Contact: Deborah Cahill, ECABC President
604.294.4123 dcdahill@eca.bc.ca

Whistler, BC; June 13 to 17, 2012

The annual CECA Conference was held in Whistler hosted by the Canadian Electrical Contractors Association at The Four Seasons Resort. This year's theme was "A Mountain of Possibilities" and the conference attracted 263 attendees from across the country. It was a busy week for us all with engaging workshops, social events and interesting key note speakers who covered subjects from new technology, environmental issues, the world economy and globalization of our markets. In addition we had an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Whistler with day excursions including golf, river rafting and a helicopter glacier tour. Many people had never been to Whistler before and despite the poor weather, all were captivated by the beauty of the area.

For me, the highlight of the conference was ECABC's Hall of Fame Diamond Dinner on Friday night. It was another event celebrating our 60th anniversary and the evening's feature was the induction of Doug Hutton, George Ingham and Hank Paquin into our Hall of Fame. The dinner was held in the Roundhouse at the top of Whistler Mountain. The night started with a breathtaking 25 minute gondola ride up the mountain. The weather cooperated allowing a fabulous view of the village and surrounding terrain.

Upon arrival our guests enjoyed socializing with a Diamond Dinner cocktail reception before dinner. Everyone had their photos taken which they were given at the end of the evening courtesy of our sponsors NEDCO, FM Installations, WESCO and MERCEDES - BENZ. Before the Hall of Fame inductions, Robert Lashin recognized Bob Alger and Dan Mott for their work in the industry and with ECABC. After Doug, George and Hank were inducted into the Hall of Fame, I thanked our outgoing chairman Robert Lashin with a weekend to Seattle including tickets to the King Tut exhibition. On behalf of the Board and all of our members, thank you Robert for your leadership and hard work!

The conference closed on Saturday with an ECABC Board Meeting, a Chapter Chair Meeting and our Annual General Meeting. That evening the conference closed with a formal Gala Dinner and Dance featuring the six piece band Dr. Strangelove. It was a wonderful evening and a perfect wrap up to our week.

I'd like to thank everyone who attended this year's conference, our Hall of Famers who worked behind the scenes and especially our office staff; Samaya and Lynn who worked countless hours on making the conference and our Hall of Fame Diamond Dinner a huge success. And again we appreciate our sponsors: NEDCO, FM Installations, WESCO and MERCEDES - BENZ. Thanks to all!

British Columbia Safety Authority

From January to May 2012, the BC Safety Authority has been consulting with clients and stakeholders on the proposed fee changes for 2012-2014. To all that participated in the consultation process, we want to express our appreciation for your interest, time and insight. After reviewing the findings of the consultation process, the BC Safety Authority has decided to move forward with the following fee changes:

2012: A 3% fee increase effective August 27, 2012

2013: A 3% fee increase effective January 1, 2013

2014: A 3% fee increase effective January 1, 2014

Please refer to the documents below for a detailed account of the fee consultation findings and the fee schedules for each year:

One additional fee change of note is in the Fee Schedule: Gas that relates to changes in the contractor installation permit for certain gas appliance replacements (dryers, ranges/range tops, wall ovens, and barbecues). This fee structure change has been made to better align our fees to the service provided for the lower risk work of replacing certain gas appliances and responds to client feedback.

A thorough review to simplify our fee structure is presently taking place and the BC Safety Authority will announce and invite feedback on the proposed changes during 2012. After review and consideration of consultation feedback, notification of approved fee structure changes will be provided later this year for effect in early 2013.

Journal of Commerce Article

The attached article entitled "Electricians concerned about non trade certified work" appears in the most recent issue of Journal of Commerce magazine. (March 2012). The article presents the ECABC’s opposition to the BCSA’s agreement with ASTTBC to certify restricted licenses. It is our position, supported by our Board of Directors and the industry at large that this decision puts workers and the general public at risk. The debate between us and the BCSA over this issue has been going on for months however our concerns have not been addressed. Hopefully this article will help increase awareness.

ECABC is the only unified voice for the electrical industry and we must be heard. Workers safety should not be compromised. Further, before any changes or revisions are made to certification, training or training standards, ECABC, as a primary stakeholder, should be consulted. This has not occurred.

I strongly urge you to forward this article to your colleagues and join us in support of our position.

This is not the last you will hear from us on this important issue. We will continue to work for you and your employees with local and provincial authorities and argue for changes to be made to this agreement.

Upcoming March courses.

The March 2012 Safety Training Bulletin contains a list of upcoming March courses! For further information about our Safety Management Training contact the BCCSA at 604-636-3690 or visit http://www.bccsa.ca

Upcoming February courses.

The February 15–29, 2012 Safety Training Bulletin contains a list of upcoming February courses. For further information about our Safety Management Training contact the BCCSA at 604-636-3690 or visit http://www.bccsa.ca

Know the Code. It’s Up to You.

The 2012 CE Code, Part I, is now available. As a key component of the electrical safety system in Canada, the 2012 CE Code provides knowledge of the latest in electrical installation practices, emerging technologies, and workplace safety while reducing the incidence of costly, time-consuming re-works. Start protecting your professional reputation now. www.knowthecode2012.com